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WAHO reaffirm support to ECOWAS Member States in overcoming COVID -19 pandemic

As the institution designated by the highest authorities of ECOWAS to lead the coordination, collaboration and communication in the region with regards to Covid-19, The West African Health Organization (WAHO) has avowed its commitment in the fight against the pandemic that has bedeviled its Member States.

WAHO in a statement released on the 1st of April said the institution has distributed over 30,000 diagnostic test kits, 50,000 specimen transportation kits and 10,000 personal protective equipment (PPE), and some medications to Member States supplementing what individual countries are doing by themselves.

The Press release disclosed that “WAHO has been very active in bringing together Member State to adopt a regional approach to the pandemic and to support them as necessary”

“As at February 2020, a few days after the declaration by World Health Organization (WHO) of Covid-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, The West African Health Organization convened an emergency meeting of the Ministers of Health across ECOWAS on preparedness and response to the outbreak of Covid-19, and the meeting agreed on a unified regional approach to the pandemic”.

“WAHO immediately strengthened the capacity of all 15 member states to test for Covid-19 through a regional laboratory training and distribution of the first batch of diagnostic kits to all member states. In all the 15 ECOWAS Members States, several actors including health workers are being mobilized to save lives”

“However, there continues to be the challenge of securing sufficient materials given the disruption in global supply chains, this is something WAHO is tackling through its partnership with other agencies and bodies to ensure Member States do not run out of stock” the statement disclosed.

Similarly, the statement emphasized that the most important tool in the struggle is the behavior of every citizen, highlighting that it is of utmost importance that the citizens heed to the information on how to protect themselves and their loved ones through;

“Regularly and thoroughly wash of hands with soap and water, or the use of alcoholic based hand sanitizer. Reducing physical contact to the minimum by maintaining at least 1.5 meter distance between yourself and anyone. Avoiding touching of the eyes, nose and mouth. Avoiding social gatherings” among other measures.




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